Betim Halimi

Betim Halimi

Personal information
Full name	Betim Halimi
Date of birth	(1996-02-28) 28 February 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Pozharan, FR Yugoslavia
Height	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Gjilani
Number	1
Youth career
2010–2014	Vllaznia Pozheran
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2016	Vllaznia Pozheran
2016	Drita	15	(0)
2016–2017	Hajvalia	3	(0)
2017–2018	Drita	22	(0)
2018–2019	Narva Trans	7	(0)
2019–2021	Olimpik Donetsk	18	(0)
2021–2022	Prishtina	16	(0)
2022–2023	Kukësi	7	(0)
2023–	Gjilani	11	(0)
International career‡
2021	Kosovo	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2021

Betim Halimi (born 28 February 1996) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Kosovo Superleague club Gjilani.

Club career

Early career and Drita

Halimi was part of Kosovo First League club Vllaznia Pozheran until 1 February 2016. On 19 January 2016, Telegrafi announced that he is on trial to Chelsea's under-18 team competing in the U18 Premier League, ^[1] but unfortunately this test turned out to fail. On 1 February 2016, Halimi joined Kosovo Superleague side Drita, ^[2] to replace the injured Artan Latifi and played 15 matches in the league.

Hajvalia

On 7 July 2016, Halimi joined Kosovo Superleague side Hajvalia. ^[3] On 21 August 2016, he made his debut in a 4–0 away defeat against Ferizaj after being named in the starting line-up. ^[4]

Return to Drita

On 30 December 2016, Halimi returned to Kosovo Superleague club Drita and this return would become legally effective two days later. ^[5] On 26 February 2017, he made his debut in a 1–1 away win against Gjilani after being named in the starting line-up. ^[6]

Narva Trans

On 13 June 2018, Halimi joined Meistriliiga side Narva Trans. ^[7] On 21 August 2018, he made his debut with Narva Trans in the 2018–19 Estonian Cup third round against SK Kadrina after being named in the starting line-up. Seven days later, he made his first Meistriliiga appearance after coming on as a substitute at last minutes in place of Artur Kotenko in a 0–3 away win against Kuressaare. ^[8]

Olimpik Donetsk

On 27 February 2019, Halimi signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Ukrainian Premier League club Olimpik Donetsk and received squad number 12. ^{[9] [10]} Four days later, he made his debut in a 0–1 home defeat against Arsenal Kyiv after being named in the starting line-up. ^{[11] [12]}

Prishtina

On 10 August 2021, Halimi signed a three-year contract with Kosovo Superleague club Prishtina. ^[13] Seven days later, he made his debut with Prishtina in the 2021 Kosovar Supercup against Llapi after being named in the starting line-up. ^[14]

International career

Under-21

On 21 March 2017, Halimi received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Republic of Ireland U21, ^[15] he was an unused substitute in that match.

Senior

On 23 December 2019, Halimi confirmed that he received a call-up from Kosovo for a friendly match against Sweden, but due to injury, could not be part of the national team. ^[16] On 17 March 2021, he received again a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Lithuania and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Sweden and Spain, ^[17] but he was an unused substitute in these matches. On 11 June 2021, Halimi made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Gambia after being named in the starting line-up. ^[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 January 2022 ^[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Drita	2015–16	Kosovo Superleague	15	0	4	0	—		19	0
Hajvalia	2016–17		3	0	0	0	—		3	0
Drita			13	0	0	0	—		13	0
	2017–18		9	0	0	0	—		9	0
Narva Trans	2018	Meistriliiga	7	0	2	0	—		9	0
	Total		47	0	6	0	—		53	0
Olimpik Donetsk	2018–19	Ukrainian Premier League	3	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	4	0
	2019–20		4	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	6	0
	2020–21		8	0	1	0	—		9	0
	Total		15	0	1	0	3	0	19	0
Prishtina	2021–22	Kosovo Superleague	16	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	18	0
Kukësi	2022–23	Kategoria Superiore	3	0	0	0	—		3	0
Career total			81	0	7	0	4	0	93	0

1. All appearance(s) in 2018–19 Ukrainian Premier League relegation round
2. All appearance(s) in 2019–20 Ukrainian Premier League relegation round
3. Appearance in 2021 Kosovar Supercup

References

1. "Portieri i përfaqësueses së Kosovës në prova te Chelsea (Foto)" [Goalkeeper of Kosovo national team in test to Chelsea (Photo)] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 19 January 2016. Portieri i Vllaznisë së Pozheranit dhe i përfaqësueses së Kosovës për nën 21 vjeç, Betim Halimi, është në prova te skuadra e Chelseat
2. "Zyrtare: Betim Halimi kalon te Drita" [Official: Betim Halimi passes to Drita]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
3. "Betim Halimi te Hajvalia" [Betim Halimi to Hajvalia]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 7 July 2016.
4. "89-shi e Drita fitojnë në udhëtim, Salihu në histori me Ferizajn" [89th and Drita win in the trip, Salihu in history with Ferizaj]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 21 August 2016.
5. "Zyrtare: Betim Halimi firmos me Dritën (FOTO)" [Official: Betim Halimi signs with Drita (PHOTO)]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 30 December 2016.
6. "Gjilani dhe Drita ndahen në paqe, Trepça '89 vazhdon marshin drejt titullit" [Gjilan and Drita are separated in peace, Trepça '89 continues the march towards the title]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 26 February 2017.
7. "Zyrtare: Betim Halimi befason të gjithë me skuadrën e re" [Official: Betim Halimi surprises everyone with the new team]. SPORT-24H (in Albanian). 13 June 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
8. "Kuressaare vs. Trans 0–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
9. "Бетим Халими – игрок "Олимпика"" [Betim Halimi is a player of Olympic] (in Ukrainian). FC Olimpik Donetsk. 7 July 2016.
10. "Ish-portieri i Dritës dhe Vllaznisë, Betim Halimi nënshkruan me klubin ukrainas Olimpik Donetsk" [Former goalkeeper of Drita and Vllaznia, Betim Halimi signed with Ukrainian club Olimpik Donetsk]. Indeksonline (in Albanian). 3 March 2019.
11. ""Олимпик" уступает "Арсеналу"" ["Olympic" surrender to "Arsenal"] (in Ukrainian). FC Olimpik Donetsk. 3 March 2019.
12. "Betim Halimi debutoi në Ukrainë" [Betim Halimi debuts in Ukraine]. Indeksonline (in Albanian). 3 March 2019.
13. "Zyrtare: Prishtina transferon Betim Halimin" [Official: Prishtina transfers Betim Halimi] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 10 August 2021.
14. "Superkupa e Kosovës: Formacionet zyrtare, Prishtina – Llapi" [Kosovo Supercup: Official line-ups, Prishtina – Llapi] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 17 August 2021.
15. "Lista e futbollistëve të Përfaqësueses U21" [List of the footballers of national U21 team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
16. "Portieri Betim Halimi merr ftesë nga Kosova" [Goalkeeper Betim Halimi receives an invitation from Kosovo] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 23 December 2019. Betim Halimi ka marrë ftesë për herë të parë nga Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës në futboll, por lëndimi i fundit do t'ia mohojë atij grumbullimin e mbase edhe debutimin me Dardanët
17. "Challandes publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e marsit" [Challandes publishes the list of footballers for the March matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 17 March 2021.
18. "Kosova – Gambia, formacioni zyrtar, Daku përsëri startues" [Kosovo – Gambia, official formation, Daku starting again] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 11 June 2021.
19. Betim Halimi at Soccerway

External links

• Betim Halimi at Soccerway